title: Autism spectrum disorder severity as a predictor of Battelle Developmental Inventory - second edition (BDI-2) scores in toddlers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomology and scores on the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-2) in toddlers (n = 325).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total scores on the BDI-2 and individual domain scores were examined to explore the relationship between severity of ASD and developmental quotient, impairment in personal-social skills, adaptive functioning, cognition, and communication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analyses controlled for the impact of age and IQ on results, indicating that higher autism severity scores were associated with overall greater impairment and in the total scores and the individual domains of the BDI-2. The domains were found to be differentially affected by severity of ASD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest severity of ASD may influence symptom presentation. Clinical implications of study findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, LA , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Goldin
authors.forename: Johnny L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Beighley
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D002657:Child Development; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior